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Recognizing the need for more evidence-based interventions and the potential of well-crafted messages in communicating the opioid epidemic, this study investigates the effectiveness of two messaging strategies (i.e., victim vividness and external attribution) that have the potential to mitigate stigmatization and influence a wide range of public policies concerning the opioid epidemic. Building upon the attribution theory of interpersonal behavior, an experiment with a 2 (victim vividness: high vs. low) × 2 (external attribution: present vs. absent) between-subjects factorial design was conducted among a national sample of U.S. adults (N = 995). The findings show that the messages with greater victim vividness reduced support for victim-oriented punitive policies, whereas the messages that mentioned external attribution increased support for perpetrator-oriented punitive policies. In addition, the two messaging strategies also worked indirectly through various emotions to influence policy support. Discussions on this study's contributions to both theory and practice are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a prevalent form of vertigo that necessitates a skilled physician to diagnose by observing the nystagmus and vertigo resulting from specific changes in the patient's position. In this study, we aim to explore the integration of eye movement video and position information for BPPV diagnosis and apply artificial intelligence (AI) methods to improve the accuracy of BPPV diagnosis. Methods: We collected eye movement video and diagnostic data from 518 patients with BPPV who visited the hospital for examination from January to March 2021 and developed a BPPV dataset. Based on the characteristics of the dataset, we propose a multimodal deep learning diagnostic model, which combines a video understanding model, self-encoder, and cross-attention mechanism structure. Result: Our validation test on the test set showed that the average accuracy of the model reached 81.7%, demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed multimodal deep learning method for BPPV diagnosis. Furthermore, our study highlights the significance of combining head position information and eye movement information in BPPV diagnosis. We also found that postural and eye movement information plays a critical role in the diagnosis of BPPV, as demonstrated by exploring the necessity of postural information for the diagnostic model and the contribution of cross-attention mechanisms to the fusion of postural and oculomotor information. Our results underscore the potential of AI-based methods for improving the accuracy of BPPV diagnosis and the importance of considering both postural and oculomotor information in BPPV diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building upon recent theoretical perspectives on emotional flow and the dynamic nature of fear appeals specifically, this study examined the sequencing effects of the emotions (i.e., fear and hope) induced from a fear appeal on persuasion in the context of MMR vaccination. Specifically, an experiment (N = 386) with 2 video messages was conducted that manipulated the sequence in which participants experienced fear and hope, resulting in a fear → hope appeal and a hope → fear appeal. The findings show that the fear → hope appeal was more effective in increasing activism intentions than the hope → fear appeal. Fear and hope at different time points served as mediators for this effect. In addition, issue relevance was a moderator for this effect such that the fear → hope appeal was more effective only among those perceiving the issue as highly relevant. Discussions and implications are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The newly discovered AB 4 -type superlattice structure of rare earth–Mg–Ni-based (RE–Mg–Ni) alloys have extended cycle life and power performance, which are a promising anode material for nickel-metal hydride (Ni/MH) battery. However, the cycling stability still needs to be enhanced to meet the requirement of utilization. Herein, we design low cost single-phase AB 4 -type alloys and clarify the effect of merging Y on Mg on the electrochemical performance. Studies show that the cycling stability of the alloy is significantly enhanced after partial replacement of Y on Mg, where the discharge capacity of the La 0.65 Sm 0.12 Y 0. 10 Mg 0. 13 Ni 3. 60 Al 0.15 alloy maintains 234.5 mAh g−1 after cycling 500 times with a capacity retention of 61.8%, in contrast to 191.6 mAh g−1 with 50.6% of the La 0.65 Sm 0.12 Mg 0. 23 Ni 3. 60 Al 0.15 alloy. The prolonged cycling life relates to the reduction of pulverization due to the increased matching degree of the sublattice structure, and the prevention of oxidation in terms of the oxide film of Y. Whereas, the discharge ability at high rates and low temperatures of the alloy are deteriorated after Y replacement. The results pave the way to the component design of the RE–Mg–Ni-based alloys for long-life Ni/MH batteries. • Low-cost AB 4 -type La–Mg–Ni-based alloys with single-phase structures are obtained. • Effect of Y substituted Mg on electrochemical properties of the alloy is clarified. • The La 0.65 Sm 0.12 Y 0 10 Mg 0. 13 Ni 3. 60 Al 0.15 alloy is with improved matching sublattices. • Y replaced Mg enhances the cycling stability to from 50.6 to 61.8% after 500 cycles. • The AB 4 -type alloys possesses superior discharge ability at high rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Random number generation (RNG) is needed for a myriad of applications ranging from secure communication encryption to numerical simulations to sports and games. However, generating truly random numbers can be elusive. Pseudorandom bit generation using computer algorithms provides a high random bit generation rate. Nevertheless, the reliance on predefined algorithms makes it deterministic and predictable once initial conditions are known. Relying on physical phenomena (such as measuring electrical noise or even rolling dice) can achieve a less predictable sequence of bits. Furthermore, if the physical phenomena originate from quantum effects, they can be truly random and completely unpredictable due to quantum indeterminacy. Traditionally, physical RNG is significantly slower than pseudorandom techniques. To meet the demand for high‐speed RNG with perfect unpredictability, semiconductor light sources are adopted as parts of the sources of randomness, i.e., entropy sources, in quantum RNG (QRNG) systems. The high speed of their noise, the high efficiency, and the small scale of these devices make them ideal for chip‐scale QRNG. Here, the applications and recent advances of QRNG are reviewed using semiconductor emitters. Finally, the performance of these emitters is compared and discuss their potential in future technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic has sparked hostility against Chinese immigrants and sojourners in the U.S. and other countries. Making the situation worse, strong resentment against this group has also emerged in China due to the fear of returnees spreading the disease. Integrating research on acculturation and hostile media perception, we examined how such bilateral hostility along with different acculturation components (i.e., cultural identification, COVID-19-related media use, and individualistic-collectivistic value) influenced U.S.-dwelling Chinese's psychological well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the results from a two-wave survey assessing the cultural identity and value, COVID-19-related media use, and psychological distress of a group of relatively young and highly educated U.S.-dwelling Chinese (N = 1,256) between March and April 2020, we found that identification with both U.S. and Chinese cultures alleviated immigrants and sojourners' psychological distress. Further, COVID-19-related media use served as a stressor during the pandemic, and perceived hostility from China led to stronger psychological distress among U.S.-dwelling Chinese. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water pollution caused by the leakage and discharge of pollutants, such as dyes and heavy metal ions, can cause serious damage to the environment and human health. Therefore, it is important to design and develop adsorbent materials that are efficient and multifunctional for the removal of these pollutants. In this work, poly(vinyl alcohol-co-ethylene) (EVOH)/polyaniline (PANI) composite nanofibrous aerogels (NFAs) were fabricated via solution oxidation and blending. The aerogels were characterized by a scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, a contact angle measuring instrument and a universal testing machine. The influences of the introduction of PANI nanorods on the structural properties of aerogels were investigated, and the adsorption performance of aerogels was also studied. The results showed that the introduction of PANI nanorods filled the fibrous network structure, reduced porosity, increased surface hydrophilicity and improved compressive strength. Furthermore, EVOH/PANI composite NFAs possess good adsorption performances for dyes and heavy metal ions: The adsorption capacities of methyl orange and chromium ions (VI) are 73.22 mg/g and 115.54 mg/g, respectively. Overall, the research suggests that EVOH/PANI NFAs have great potential as efficient and multifunctional adsorbent materials for the removal of pollutants from water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to inflict damage throughout the world, some minority groups are bearing a disproportionate share of its impacts. We concentrated on one such group, U.S.-dwelling Chinese, who have had to cope with challenges related to acculturation, health, safety, and racism. Recognizing that health information seeking was an essential step in helping maintain and improve health behaviors, we conducted a two-wave longitudinal study (N = 1,284) to examine the various factors predicting U.S.-dwelling Chinese's use of U.S. and Chinese media for COVID-19 information as well as the consequences of their information seeking. Overall, we found that acculturation, accuracy (i.e., information insufficiency) and defense (i.e., conspiratorial beliefs) motivations, trust in media, and perceived information gathering capacity played a key role in explaining information seeking from an intercultural viewpoint, and that the use of U.S. and Chinese media was associated with different health behaviors. These findings contribute to theory and practice in a variety of ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research reports an acoustic wireless energy transmission system featuring high efficiency and robustness. The proposed energy transmission system is composed of a piezoelectric cantilever-based transmitter and receiver that are coupled using the forces of permanent magnets. Taking advantage of the strong coupling effect of magnet force, we can transfer mechanical energy wirelessly through mediums of the air and metal plate. The experimental studies show that the voltage transmission efficiencies reach 55.59% and 51.58% in cases of energy transfer through mediums of the air and the air–metal–air, respectively. In addition, the maximum power transmission reaches 42.73 mW at an operational frequency of 104.2 Hz. This wireless energy transmission system can be used for powering devices in enclosed, electrically shielded, and biomedical areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zearalenone (ZEN) is an estrogenic mycotoxin produced by the Fusarium species and induces severe reproductive disorders in animals thus a major concern in the livestock industry. Probiotic bacteria treatments have been shown to inactivate mycotoxins, therefore, in this study, we investigated the effect of two commercial probiotic feed additives on the sequestration of ZEN. Commercial probiotic blends containing clay-based binder with Aspergillus niger, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus pumilus , and Bacillus subtilis at various proportions from BioMatrix International were incubated with ZEN in a time-dependent manner and then analyzed by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) to quantify unbound ZEN. Sequestration of ZEN was further verified by using MCF-7 cell-based cytotoxicity and/or cell proliferation assays. ZEN, or probiotic mix, was nontoxic to MCF-7 cells. Probiotic blends decreased ZEN concentration by 45% (∼100 μg L−1) and prevented ZEN from inducing MCF-7 cell proliferation (20%–28% reduction). The probiotic feed supplements tested show a potential utility in ZEN neutralization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fibre plays an important role in diluting dietary energy density. Fibre is also implicated in the regulation of appetite, perhaps through direct effects in the brain. However, there is little information on this effect in pigs. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the effect of fibre type in regulating the expression of genes involved in appetite control, inflammation and antioxidant defence in the hypothalamus of weaned piglets. A total of 64 Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire barrows at 37 days old were blocked by body weight and allotted to two dietary treatments, supplementation with either 0.25% cellulose (Solka‐Floc) or inulin (INU) for 28 days, after which animals were killed for analysis. Pigs fed INU had a tendency (p = 0.06) for reduced feed intake in the first week, although this effect disappeared in subsequent weeks. Pigs supplemented with INU had lower expression of dopamine (dopamine receptor D2), serotonin (5‐hydroxytryptamine receptor 1B), free fatty acid (GPR43) and neuropeptide Y receptor Y2 receptors in the hypothalamus (p < 0.05). Expression of the tryptophan hydroxylase 2 gene in the hypothalamus also tended (p = 0.09) to be lower for pigs fed INU. The abundance of antioxidant defence genes, superoxide dismutase (SOD1) and catalase, were greater (p < 0.05) but that of a proinflammatory gene, interleukin 1β, was lower (p < 0.05) in the hypothalamus of pigs fed INU. Therefore, consumption of INU causes downregulation of inflammation in the hypothalamus and regulation of the abundance of serotonin or dopamine receptors, and may also increase antioxidant defence through upregulation of SOD and catalase in weaned piglets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The air void system purposely introduced by an air-entraining admixture (AEA) is of great significance for the protection of concrete from freeze–thaw damage. Fly ash has been globally used in concrete, while the unburnt carbon in fly ash can adsorb AEA molecules and, thus, increase the AEA demand. Previous studies primarily focused on the air content of fresh fly ash concrete. This paper aimed to explore the stability and distribution of air voids in fly ash concrete at the fresh state. To achieve this goal, eleven different fresh fly ash concrete mixtures with an initial air content of 6 ± 1% were prepared in the laboratory. Samples were taken at various times within 75 min after initial mixing to investigate the air content and air void distribution in fly ash concrete at the fresh state using a super air meter (SAM). The results indicated that there was no significant correlation between loss on ignition (LOI) of fly ash and AEA demand to achieve the initial air content of 6 ± 1%. Class C fly ash concrete tended to have a better air content retention than Class F fly ash concrete. Compared with LOI, AEA demand had a stronger correlation with air content retention. Most of the fly ash concrete mixtures had a satisfactory air void system immediately after mixing, but the SAM number showed an increasing trend over time, suggesting the coarsening of the air void system with time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Repeated exposure and its associated fatigue are key obstacles to engagement that remain insufficiently addressed for climate change communication. To explore this issue, this study randomly assigned U.S. adults (N = 933) to one of five experimental conditions (number of polar bear news headlines: 0 vs. 1 vs. 3 vs. 7 vs. 10), in which they were exposed to a total of 20 news headlines in a brief amount of time. Overall, this study did not find evidence supporting the inverted-U shaped model concerning repeated exposure. In addition, chronic message fatigue played a moderating role such that for those with high chronic message fatigue, even one brief exposure resulted in stronger acute message fatigue, which was associated with lower compassion and weaker willingness to help polar bears and support climate change mitigation. Discussions on these exploratory results and implications for audience segmentation are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the effects of two humor styles—pure humor and satire—on audiences' Twitter engagement intentions as well as their attitudes toward mRNA Covid-19 vaccines. In an online between-subjects experiment (N = 484), these styles were embedded within a scientist's tweet about the vaccines. The results showed that, compared to a no humor tweet, both pure humor and satire increased audience's expectancy violation, subsequently decreasing both outcomes. Superiority as an individual trait also moderated the relationship between humor styles and both expectancy violation and Twitter engagement. These findings broaden our understanding of different humor styles in science communication on Twitter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loading tests were carried out on the dowel bar-concrete substructure of concrete pavement. Mechanical characteristics of dowel bar-concrete interaction were studied. In the elastic range of concrete, the bearing modulus, which is a crucial parameter but is usually determined by presumption, was calculated using classic Westergaard equations. Its influencing factors were evaluated such as concrete strength, dowel bar thickness, joint width, and anti-cohesive layer. Besides, a theoretical equation for tangential stress at the most dangerous point of concrete was deduced from Westergaard's and Timoshenko's equations. The equation reveals how the tangential stress of the most dangerous point at the dowel bar-concrete interface is affected by influencing factors. Lastly, the deterioration process of concrete around the dowel bar was revealed. The strain gauges' data show that deterioration of concrete develops from the most dangerous point to far away from the dowel bar gradually. Two failure modes were found; one is circular spalling, the other is three main cracks. The initiation of the dowel-bar concrete structure's deterioration is circular spalling, attributed to high radial compressive stress in concrete. The deterioration starts around half the load capacity of the structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The oral bioavailability of tangeretin is limited by its low water solubility and high crystallisation. In the present study, tangeretin was entrapped in whey protein concentrate (WPC)‐stabilised emulsions to enhance its bioaccessibility. Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) was added to modify the interface of the emulsion droplets, and Ca2+‐crosslinking was used to induce the gel formation. Spray drying of the emulsions or gels enabled to produce microcapsules. The physicochemical characteristics and in vitro digestion behavior of the microcapsules were investigated. Results indicated that HPMC modification and Ca2+‐crosslinking increased the average particle size, altered the microstructure, ameliorated the quality of the WPC‐based microcapsules and improved the encapsulation efficiency of tangeretin. Furthermore, the in vitro studies showed that HPMC modified and Ca2+‐added microcapsules could control the release of free fatty acid. HPMC greatly increased the bioaccessibility of tangeretin from around 28% to 80%. Overall, these results confirmed that HPMC‐modified WPC microcapsules could be a promising carrier to protect hydrophobic functional ingredients and improve their oral bioavailability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In micro-grinding, the improvement of machining accuracy has received increasing attention recently. However, the real-time dynamic change for taking into the grinding thickness during the machining process, combined with the complex vibration characteristics of the spindle, complicates the theoretical treatment. As a result, the role of interaction characteristics, particularly in the coupling relationship between the tool and workpiece, remains unclear. The coupled superposition algorithm for dynamic grinding force and vibration response is established to better understand the interaction between the tool and the workpiece. Considering the unbalanced excitation and nonlinear grinding force, a dynamic nonlinear model of the tool-workpiece in the grinding process is developed to predict the vibration response and dynamic characteristics during machining. According to the geometric relationship of adjacent abrasive grits during the machining process, the dynamic grinding thickness including the multi-degree of freedom instantaneous displacement is derived, and the dynamic grinding combined force on the primary and secondary surfaces of the tool is calculated. The accuracy of the dynamic model of microgrinding considering tool-workpiece interaction is verified based on the constructed microgrinding test bed. The effect of different dimensional parameters and operating parameters on the stability of spindle machining is analysed by the established model. The potential value of this research is to guide the selection of grinding parameters and the improvement of machining accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The applications of COFs as main components of ZIBs are comprehensively reviewed. • The correlation of COF molecular structure with battery performance is discussed. • The designed strategies of COF-based electrocatalysts for ZABs are summarized. • Future efforts on COFs towards high-performance zinc-based batteries are proposed. The increasing demand for scalable and cost-effective electrochemical energy storage solutions has led to the exploration of zinc-based batteries as promising alternatives to lithium-ion batteries. Zinc-based batteries offer several advantages, including inherent safety, affordability and environmental friendliness. However, challenges are still faced in the development of zinc-based batteries such as undesirable spontaneous side reactions and the formation of zinc dendrites, which disrupt the zinc plating and stripping processes at the electrolyte/anode interface, resulting in the instability of the zinc metal anode. These issues pose practical limitations on the widespread use of zinc-based batteries. Currently, there is significant research into covalent organic framework (COF), which are considered highly promising for various components in zinc-based batteries, including cathodes, anodes, and electrolytes, due to their thermostability, high porosity, tunable structures, and multiple functionalities. This review offers a comprehensive overview of recent progress in COF-related materials for a wide range of applications in zinc-based batteries. Particularly, the superior characteristics of COFs and their suitability for Zn-ion batteries and Zn-air batteries are highlighted. Meanwhile, current challenges, possible solutions and potential future research directions on COFs for zinc-based batteries are discussed, laying the groundwork for future advances for this exciting class of material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Acute gouty arthritis (AGA) is a common arthritis disease, with the characteristics of acute onset, severe condition, and poor prognosis. The conventional treatments have shown certain curative effects but are accompanied with many adverse reactions. The combination of orally taken Qinpi Tongfeng Formula (QPTFF) and bloodletting therapy could effectively alleviate arthralgia and joint swelling in AGA patients. However, there is a lack of high-quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of the combined therapy against AGA. Methods. This is a prospective, randomized, parallel controlled trial conducted in the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine to explore the efficacy and safety of QPTFF combined with bloodletting therapy in the treatment of AGA. Eighty-six AGA patients meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria will be randomly divided into the treatment group and control group in a 1 : 1 ratio using a randomization table. The investigators and the patients will not be blinded, while the outcome assessors and statisticians will be blinded to the allocation. Patients in the treatment group will take QPTFF and bloodletting therapy simultaneously, while patients in the control group will be instructed to orally take colchicine tablets. The primary outcome is the total effective rate, and the secondary outcomes are the pain changes after the first treatment, pain scores, complete pain relief time, joint symptom scores, TCM syndrome score, and laboratory test. SPSS22.0 will be used for statistical analysis. Discussion. This study will evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of QPTFF combined with bloodletting therapy in the treatment of AGA, and the results of this study will provide reliable clinical evidence for the clinical use of QPTFF combined with bloodletting in the treatment of AGA. The trial is registered with ChiCTR2100048836. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing the AES content usually increases the air content, but Mixture AA-5 had a lower air content than Mixture AA-3, as shown in Table 7 of the original paper. Air bubbles in concrete can be divided into entrapped air bubbles and entrained air bubbles. It has been reported that concrete with low-alkali cement requires a much higher air-entraining admixture (AEA) dosage to achieve a comparable air content to concrete with high-alkali cement ([6]; [7]). For example, the spacing factor of concrete with low-alkali cement increased significantly with time after the addition of HRWR, while increasing alkali content in cement helps stabilize air bubbles ([9]; [8]). [Extracted from the article]

Despite potential benefits emerging energy technologies usually promise, the public often meets them with skepticism, resistance, or even outright rejection. In this study, we investigated the potential role communication plays in the early stages of opinion formation. In particular, we examined the relationships among message framing, information processing, communication motivation, and information seeking. Building on work examining uncertainty reduction, fairness, risk communication, and the theory of planned behaviors, we conducted an experiment in which a sample of U.S. adults (N = 1042) were led to believe that enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) would be developed in their local community. Participants received initial information varying in degrees of uncertainty and procedural fairness about the EGS development. Subsequently, we offered them an opportunity to read additional articles about EGS, which was operationalized as actual information seeking behaviors. We found that predictors, such as affect, norm, current knowledge, and information need, explained information engagement intentions, which further predicted actual information seeking behaviors. In addition, systematic processing of the initial EGS information, perceived uncertainty, and perceived fairness had direct relations with actual information seeking. The discussion provides theoretical and practical implications. • This study assessed reactions to information about enhanced geothermal systems. • The risk information seeking and processing model was applied. • Predictors of information seeking about enhanced geothermal systems were examined. • Systematic processing of earlier information predicted ensuing information seeking. • Perceived uncertainty and fairness predicted subsequent information seeking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aging process has broad physiological impacts, including a significant decline in sensory function, which threatens both physical health and quality of life. One ideal model to study aging, neuronal function, and gene expression is the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, which has a short lifespan and relatively simple, thoroughly mapped nervous system and genome. Previous works have identified that mechanosensory neuronal structure changes with age, but importantly, the actual age-related changes in the function and health of neurons, as well as the underlying genetic mechanisms responsible for these declines, are not fully understood. While advanced techniques such as single-cell RNA-sequencing have been developed to quantify gene expression, it is difficult to relate this information to functional changes in aging due to a lack of tools available. To address these limitations, we present a platform capable of measuring both physiological function and its associated gene expression throughout the aging process in individuals. Using our pipeline, we investigate the age-related changes in function of the mechanosensing ALM neuron in C. elegans, as well as some relevant gene expression patterns (mec-4 and mec-10). Using a series of devices for animals of different ages, we examined subtle changes in neuronal function and found that while the magnitude of neuronal response to a large stimulus declines with age, sensory capability does not significantly decline with age; further, gene expression is well maintained throughout aging. Additionally, we examine PVD, a harsh-touch mechanosensory neuron, and find that it exhibits a similar age-related decline in magnitude of neuronal response. Together, our data demonstrate that our strategy is useful for identifying genetic factors involved in the decline in neuronal health. We envision that this framework could be applied to other systems as a useful tool for discovering new biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) have been widely studied as electrocatalysts, and the research strategy to improve their electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance is to modify their structure. In this paper, two‐dimensional bimetallic MOFs were constructed to improve electrocatalytic OER performance. Using a mild electrochemical method with Ni and Co as metal sources and 4, 4 ′‐biphenyl dicarboxylic acid (H2BPDC) as ligand, two‐dimensional NiCo‐BPDC was synthesized and then deposited on a carbon cloth electrode. The results show that NiCo‐BPDC/CC possessed a low overpotential of 356 mV at a current density of 20 mA cm−2 with a small Tafel slope of 86 mV dec−1 in 1.0 M KOH solution. The two‐dimensional NiCo‐BPDC exhibits excellent electrocatalytic OER performance because the coordination of Ni and Co in the material and the interaction of the two‐dimensional materials provide a large electrochemically active surface area and expose more metal active sites for OER, thus improving the reaction efficiency and indicating NiCo‐BPDC as potential OER electrocatalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lab on a Chip EDITORIAL Cite this: Lab Chip,2021, 21,987 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc90012a rsc.li/loc Musings on the future of scientific (physical but not socially distanced) conferences: testing the water with organizing the on-line MicroTAS2020 Séverine Le Gac * ab and Hang Lu * c As many people have experienced in the past year or so around the world, COVID19 has brought many changes in our lives. In hindsight - a wellorganized team and structure As for any other MicroTAS and other conferences, this online event was organized by the chairs, us, with the assistance of the professional conference organization Preferred Meeting Management, Inc. and several committees in charge of specific aspects. 2 Snapshots of some video contributions from members of the microfluidic community highlighting what the MicroTAS conference means to them, the importance of having a MicroTAS conference in this COVID-19 situation and the foreseen advantages of an online conference. [Extracted from the article]

Gene expression and regulation play diverse and important roles across all living systems. By quantifying the expression, whether in a sample of single cells, a specific tissue, or in a whole animal, one can gain insights into the underlying biology. Many biological questions now require single-animal and tissue-specific resolution, such as why individuals, even within an isogenic population, have variations in development and aging across different tissues and organs. The popular techniques that quantify the transcriptome (e.g. RNA-sequencing) process populations of animals and cells together and thus, have limitations in both individual and spatial resolution. There are single-animal assays available (e.g. fluorescent reporters); however, they suffer other technical bottlenecks, such as a lack of robust sample-handling methods. Microfluidic technologies have demonstrated various improvements throughout the years, and it is likely they can enhance the impact of these single-animal gene-expression assays. In this perspective, we aim to highlight how the engineering/method-development field have unique opportunities to create new tools that can enable us to robustly answer the next set of important questions in biology that require high-density, high-quality gene expression data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study examined the effects of aggressive communication styles on individuals' pro-environmental behavioral intentions. Two underlying mechanisms—psychological reactance and expectancy violation—as well as the moderating role played by political ideology were investigated. An online experiment (N = 423) was conducted and the results showed that more aggressive style was more likely to trigger psychological reactance and violation of expectation, liberals responded more negatively to the aggressive message than conservatives, and expectancy violation was an important mediator. The findings provide explanations for how communication styles affect individuals' information processing and offer implications regarding selecting communication styles wisely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inference efficiency is the predominant design consideration for modern machine learning accelerators. The ability of executing multiply-and-accumulate (MAC) significantly impacts the throughput and energy consumption during inference. However, MAC operation suffers from significant ineffectual computations that severely undermines the inference efficiency and must be appropriately handled by the accelerator. The ineffectual computations are manifested in two ways: first, zero values as the input operands of the multiplier, waste time and energy but contribute nothing to the model inference; second, zero bits in nonzero values occupy a large portion of multiplication time but are useless to the final result. In this article, we propose an ineffectual-free yet cost-effective computing architecture, called split-and-accumulate (SAC) with two essential bit detection mechanisms to address these intractable problems in tandem. It replaces the conventional MAC operation in the accelerator by only manipulating the essential bits in the parameters (weights) to accomplish the partial sum computation. Besides, it also eliminates multiplications without any accuracy loss, and supports a wide range of precision configurations. Based on SAC, we propose an accelerator family called Tetris and demonstrate its application in accelerating state-of-the-art deep learning models. Tetris includes two implementations designed for either high performance (i.e., cloud applications) or low power consumption (i.e., edge devices), respectively, contingent to its built-in essential bit detection mechanism. We evaluate our design with Vivado HLS platform and achieve up to 6.96 × performance enhancement, and up to 55.1 × energy efficiency improvement over conventional accelerator designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To highlight whether γ‐cyclodextrins (CDs) facilitate propargylamine monosubstituted β‐CDs (PA‐β‐CDs) as end stoppers to get threaded onto a distal azide terminated poly(2‐hydroxyethylmethacrylate) (PHEMA) homopolymer (PH‐46‐2N3) to create linear and hyperbranched polyrotaxanes (PRs) via the in situ copper‐catalyzed azide/alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC), PH‐46‐2N3 is self‐assembled with a varying amount of γ‐CDs in water and then subjected the CuAAC with PA‐β‐CDs to end‐cap the resulting γ‐CD‐PHEMA polypseudorotaxanes (PPRs) into the γ‐CD‐PHEMA PRs. It demonstrates that γ‐CDs cannot promote PA‐β‐CDs to be entrapped on the PHEMA chain most likely due to their different cavity size and molecular framework and linear PRs are always formed with up to 29% γ‐CD coverage ratio along the PHEMA axis thereof. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholars have examined two types of emotions, namely, incidental and integral emotions, in health communication on the basis of the source of elicitation. Despite numerous studies on the independent effects of these two types of emotions, limited research exists on how emotions may interact to influence health communication outcomes, including support for health-improving policies. To augment current knowledge, this study conducted a 2 (incidental: compassion vs. anger) × 2 (integral: compassion vs. anger) between-subjects factorial experiment in the context of the human health effects of pollution. Results showed a main effect of the incidental compassion (vs. anger) condition on protective policy support, which was mediated by self-reported compassion. In addition, this main effect was moderated by political ideology such that it was found among moderates and conservatives, but not liberals. No interaction effects were observed. These findings contribute to the literature by exploring how incidental and integral emotions may or may not interact and by complementing existing research on the moderating effect of political ideology regarding environment-related messaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The copper mediated reversible deactivation radical polymerization (Cu0‐RDRP) can realize the precise synthesis of vinyl polymers in aqueous media. To our best of knowledge, there are few hydrophobic initiators directly utilized to perform the aqueous Cu0‐RDRP because the heterogeneity usually causes the polymerization to go out of control. This article first describes a very small number of hydroxylpropyl β‐cyclodextrins (HP‐β‐CDs) enabling to solubilize a bifunctional hydrophobic initiator tetraethylene glycol bis(2‐bromoisobutyrate) (T2B) into water to initiate the homogeneous Cu0‐RDRP of N‐isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) giving rise to well‐defined poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM). The solubilization action is arisen from the inclusion complexation of HP‐β‐CDs with T2B as evidenced by 2D NOESY and 2D DOSY NMR analyses. Furthermore these entrapped HP‐β‐CDs show little effect on the polymerization process as they all skip off the initiator at the very beginning of the polymerization as determined by GPC and 1H NMR measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The order in which individuals receive information about wildlife may influence their attitude toward wildlife differently. We explored order effects of a threat message that induced more fear versus a suffering message that elicited more compassion on attitude toward wildlife. Specifically, we focused on bats, a risk-laden species also suffering massive mortalities due to a disease affecting bat populations across the United States. We randomly assigned 1,506 U.S. adults to one of eight message conditions as part of a 2 (message order: suffering → threat vs. threat → suffering) × 2 (suffering messages) × 2 (threat messages) between-subjects factorial design or a control (no message) condition. We found a significant two-way interaction between message order and biospheric values on attitude toward bats. For people with high biospheric values, reading a suffering message first led to a more positive attitude than reading a threat message first, whereas reading a threat message first led to a more positive attitude than reading a suffering message first for people with low biospheric values. Compassion but not fear mediated these effects. Theoretical and practical implications are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this present study was to determine the effects of phytase dosing on growth performance, mineral digestibility, phytate breakdown, and the level of glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT4) in muscle plasma membranes of weanling pigs. A total of 160 barrows were used in a randomized completely block design and assigned to 4 treatments for a 7-wk study. Depending on the feeding phase, diets differed in dietary calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) levels (positive control [ PC ]: 8 to 6.8g/kg Ca; 7.3 to 6.3 g/kg P; negative control [ NC ]: 5.5 to 5.2 g/kg Ca; 5.4 to 4.7 g/kg P). NC diets were supplemented with phytase at 0 (NC); 500 (NC + 500 FTU); or 2,000 FTU/kg (NC + 2,000 FTU) phytase units/kg. Blood was collected after fasting (day 48) or feeding (day 49) for measurement of plasma inositol concentrations. On day 49, 2 pigs per pen were euthanized, and duodenal and ileal digesta samples were collected to determine inositol phosphates (InsP6-2) concentrations. High phytase supplementation increased BW on days 21, 35, and 49 (P < 0.05). Over the entire feeding period, ADG, ADFI, and feed efficiency were increased by NC + 2,000 FTU compared with the other treatments (P < 0.05). Postprandial plasma inositol concentration was increased in NC + 2,000 (P < 0.01), but there was only a tendency (P = 0.06) of a higher fasting plasma inositol concentration in this group. Inositol concentrations in the portal vein plasma (day 49) were not different among treatments. Duodenal digesta InsP5 and InsP6 concentrations were similar in PC and NC, but higher in these 2 treatments (P < 0.05) than those supplemented with phytase. Phytase supplementation decreased InsP6-4, resulting in increased InsP3-2 and myo -inositol concentrations. Similar effects were found in ileal contents. Compared with NC, phytase supplementation resulted in greater cumulative InsP6-2 disappearance (93.6% vs. 72.8% vs. 25.0%, for NC + 2,000 FTU, NC + 500 FTU and NC, respectively, P < 0.01) till the distal ileum. Longissimus dorsi muscle plasma membrane GLUT4 concentration was increased by NC + 2,000 FTU (P < 0.01) compared with NC. In summary, high phytase supplementation increased growth performance of nursery pigs. The higher myo -inositol release from phytate could contribute to the increased expression of GLUT4 in muscle plasma membranes. Further investigation is needed to determine whether this is associated with enhanced cellular glucose uptake and utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of myo -inositol and phytase on growth performance, plasma metabolites, and nutrient digestibility of growing pigs. In experiment 1, 96 growing pigs with average initial body weight (BW) of 26.2 kg were used in a 25-d growth performance study. Pigs were assigned to four dietary treatments with three pigs per pen and eight replicate pens per treatment in a randomized complete block design. The four treatments were control diet (CD); CD + 2 g/kg inositol; CD + 1,000 FYT/kg phytase and CD + 3,000 FYT/kg phytase. Pigs were weighed individually every week. On day 25, blood sample was collected from one pig per pen to measure plasma metabolites concentrations. In experiment 2, 16 barrows (initial BW 34.8 ± 8.2 kg) were surgically fitted with T-cannulas. Pigs were allotted to four blocks based on BW and assigned to a quadruplicate 4 × 2 incomplete Latin square design with same four dietary treatments and two periods. Ileal digesta samples were collected from each pig on days 6 and 7 of each period to determine apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of nutrients. Phytase supplementation increased final BW and average daily gain (ADG) compared with CD (P < 0.05) with no effects on average daily feed intake (ADFI) and gain to feed (G:F) was higher in 3,000 FYT/kg phytase (P < 0.05). Inositol supplementation had no effects on growth performance. Plasma myo -inositol concentration was increased by inositol supplementation, and 3,000 FYT/kg phytase increased myo -inositol in the plasma by 97.2% (P < 0.05). Plasma P concentration was increased by 1,000 or 3,000 FYT/kg phytase with no effects on alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glucose, triglycerides (TAG), calcium (Ca), and urea concentrations. Phytase supplementation reduced (P < 0.05) the phytate-P concentration in the ileal digesta and increased the digestibility of phytate-P and total P with no effects on the AID of dry matter (DM), gross energy (GE), nitrogen (N), and Ca. In conclusion, the beneficial effects of 3,000 FYT/kg phytase on feed efficiency may due to the increased release of both myo -inositol and phosphorus (P), and may not be solely due to myo -inositol release by this level of phytase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Networks-on-chip (NoCs), as the communication infrastructure in many-core processors, has demonstrated remarkable power consumption along with the technology scaling. However, due to the temporal and spatial heterogeneity of the on-chip traffic, one critical problem is that the NoC power consumption cannot effectively adapt to the variation of its traffic intensity, also known as localized power adaptation, hence yielding a suboptimal power efficiency. Prior approaches either resort to the over-provisioned NoC design or coarse-grained bandwidth scaling to partially alleviate excessive power consumption brought by the traffic temporal or spatial heterogeneity. While in this paper, we propose a novel NoC architecture called Shuttle NoC (ShuttleNoC) to address this challenge. It leverages the link reconfiguration to enable flexible packet traversing between multiple subnetworks, and specialized punch lines to accelerate latency sensitive traffic. With the support of the dedicated power adaptation mechanisms, it is shown in the evaluation that the proposed ShuttleNoC architecture could effectively tackle the power and performance tradeoff and significantly boost the power efficiency compared with the state-of-the-art baselines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to Bronfenbrenner's ecological theory, the interaction between micro- and macro-factors improves human development. Previous studies suggest that community social capital, which refers to the interaction between residents and communities, promotes the subjective well-being of residents in residential communities. However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying this relationship. This study explored the link between community social capital and life satisfaction among urban residents and examined the mediating role of psychological flourishing and moderating effect of educational level. Data were obtained from a cross-community survey of 816 urban residents in China aged 20–60 years. The results indicated that psychological flourishing mediated the link between community social capital and life satisfaction among urban residents after controlling for gender, age, marital status, dwelling time, and monthly income. Furthermore, educational attainment moderated the association between community social capital and psychological flourishing. The mediating effect of psychological flourishing was stronger among residents with low educational attainment than those with high educational attainment, indicating that the benefits of community social capital were greater among the former group. This study extends our knowledge of the effect of community social capital on urban residents' subjective well-being, including its role in reducing educational inequality in human well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence of recovery journey self-disclosures on social media among individuals with substance use and mental disorders has increased in recent years. However, the effects of exposure to such self-disclosures on public attitudes towards these groups remain poorly understood. To address this research gap, this study investigated the impact of viewing a series of Instagram posts depicting a person's sober journey that ends positively on the attitudes and policy support of 1437 self-selected U.S. adults. The experiment employed a 2 (relapse narrative: present vs. absent) × 2 (viewing order: chronological vs. reverse-chronological) × 4 (media persona with different genders and races) between-subjects factorial design. While the experimental manipulations did not have a total effect on attitudes and policy support, the study found that the presence of a relapse narrative within a sober journey story increased perceived perseverance, parasocial interaction, and identification, which in turn affected attitudes and policy support in different ways. Furthermore, the viewing order of the posts moderated the effects of a relapse narrative on these variables. The results are discussed in terms of their theoretical contributions and practical implications. • Effects of relapse narratives on Instagram were examined. • Relapse narratives increased perceived perseverance. • Relapse narratives enhanced parasocial interaction and identification. • Viewing orders moderated the effects of relapse narratives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the unceasing advancement of novel digital technologies, artificial intelligence (AI) is projected to change and challenge established social dynamics. As such, a deeper understanding of AI and its impacts will prove to be crucial in an AI-enriched world. In the current study, we focus on an emerging AI-based technology, deepfakes, and investigate the effects of a lesser-known use of deepfakes (i.e., using deepfakes for prosocial purposes). Specifically, we examine the impacts of exposure to a "deepfake resurrection" narrative on individuals' policy support and activism intentions in two contexts (i.e., drunk driving and domestic violence). We conducted a between-subjects experiment (N = 1990) that varied in the use (vs. non-use) of deepfakes and tested four psychological processes related to the effects of deepfake resurrection narratives. While the moderating role of point of view and the mediating role of perceived desecration of the dead did not receive much support, the narrative-based and the surprise-focused mediational pathways were shown to be important mechanisms of deepfake resurrection narratives. Finally, we reflect on the potential of prosocial deepfakes and deepfake resurrection narratives and discuss the findings' relevance to both theory and practice. • Effects of deepfake resurrection narratives were examined. • Drunk driving and domestic violence served as the contexts. • Perceived realism, identification, compassion, and surprise played a role. • Point of view and perceived desecration of the dead did not matter much. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of the present study were to determine the effects of live yeast (LY) supplementation of sows during gestation and lactation and to determine the effects of supplementation of their offspring after weaning on growth performance and nutrient digestibility. A total of 40 sows were assigned to 2 dietary treatments (control vs. LY) based on parity and expected farrowing date. Birth weight, weaning weight, litter size, and mortality were measured. After weaning, 128 mixed-sex piglets (64 from each sow treatment) were selected based on their source litter and initial BW, and randomly assigned to 2 treatments (control or LY) at 4 pigs per pen (total of 32 pigs per treatment) for a 6-wk growth performance study. At the end of the growth performance trial, 2 barrows from each pen were moved to metabolism crates for total fecal collection for a digestibility trial. Addition of LY to the sow diets had no effects on birth weight, weaning weight, litter size at birth, and mortality. Piglets had greater BW on days 21 and 42 post-weaning when sows were fed diets supplemented with LY, and overall ADG was greater in piglets from sows that received LY (P < 0.05). There was no effect of sow and nursery diets on overall ADFI and G:F intake. Supplementing diets with LY during the nursery phase increased apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of DM, GE, and phosphorus (P) during this phase. The ATTD of GE was also greater in piglets from sows that received LY. In conclusion, LY supplementation of diets during gestation and lactation and during the nursery phase could increase ADG and ATTD of DM, GE, and P in the offspring, and this may lead to a greater lifetime growth performance in the offspring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract An efficient and readily available novel carbazole-based aromatic diamine (compound (4)) and two novel soluble polyimides (PI-a and PI-b) have been synthesized and characterized successfully. Highlights • An efficient and readily available novel carbazole-based aromatic diamine (compound (4)) and two novel soluble polyimides (PI-a and PI-b) have been synthesized and characterized successfully. • The device of Al/PI-a/ITO presented electric bistable WORM-type memory characteristics, however, Al/PI-b/ITO exhibited electric ternary WORM-type memory behavior. Abstract An efficient and readily available novel carbazole-based aromatic diamine was synthesized and characterized. Two polyimides (PI-a and PI-b) were prepared via a two-step procedure using the new synthesized diamine reacting with low-cost and the commercialized pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) and 3,3′,4,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride (BPDA), respectively. PIs were characterized and exhibited highly organo-solubility and thermal stability. The Al/ PI-a /ITO device showed binary write-once read-many-times (WORM) behavior with an ON/OFF current ratio up to 109 and the threshold voltage as low as −0.21 V, whereas the Al/ PI-b /ITO device presented ternary WORM behavior with an ON2/ON1/OFF current ratio up to 105:104:1 and the switching voltage below −3 V. The memory switching mechanisms were further elucidated through molecular simulation based on the density functional theory (DFT) method. This provides an effective strategy to achieve a ternary memory device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • The effect of adding Naphthenic oil into SBS modified asphalt was compared with adding Nano-MMT. • An ‘ingredients microstructure’ model was proposed for SBS modified asphalt. • The influence of naphthenic on SBS modified asphalt was divided into three stages while only one for Nano-MMT. • Naphthenic oil takes effect as a supplement for maltene. Abstract Naphthenic oil is an organic solvent whose effect as an additive to SBS modified asphalt is rarely studied. The influence of naphthenic oil on SBS modified asphalt was investigated in the paper. The influence of a well-known inorganic solid additive, Nano-MMT, was also studied to make a comparison. Storage stability, low/high temperature properties, and rheology were tested with different additive dosages. It is found that the storage stability of SBS modified asphalt can be improved by both Nano-MMT and naphthenic oil. Low temperature property is improved by naphthenic oil but worsened by Nano-MMT. High temperature viscosity is enhanced by naphthenic oil and decreased by Nano-MMT. High temperature sensitivity reflected by softening point and rutting factor increases with Nano-MMT, while it rises first then falls with naphthenic oil. An ‘ingredients microstructure’ model was proposed to describe the microstructure of ingredients of SBS modified asphalt. The model considers SBS modified asphalt to consist of two domains; one is the bee structures domain which contains maltenes inside, the other one is maltene domain which also contains asphaltenes. SBS which is smaller than the bee-like structure is randomly distributed in the maltene. Under the proposed model, the mechanism of naphthenic oil is divided into three stages considering the variation of dosage of naphthenic oil, while the effect of Nano-MMT has only one stage. It was found that the model proposed can explain the changes in storage stability and properties of SBS modified asphalt. It is proved practical to consider naphthenic oil as a supplement for maltene, taking effect in the mixture as saturates and aromatics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a fundamental social process, communication can help natural resource managers prevent or manage many human–wildlife conflicts, but research on how to present effectively information that contributes to the reduction of human–wildlife conflicts is scant. We examined the effectiveness of point-of-reference and gain-versus-loss framing in heightening intentions to prevent human–black bear conflicts. We randomly assigned 811 participants to one of six message conditions as part of a 3 (point of reference: family versus community versus bear) × 2 (message framing: gain versus loss) between-subjects factorial design or a control condition. The findings show that a match between loss framing and low-construal referencing point (e.g., family-referencing), and a congruency between gain framing and high-construal referencing point (e.g., bear-referencing) lead to higher risk perception and behavioral intentions. This study provides guidance for continuing research and design of risk communication in the context of human–bear conflicts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, SGC‑7901/DDP cells were treated with different concentrations of parthenolide (PN) (2.5‑15 μmol/l), cisplatin (DDP) (1.25‑15 μg/ml) and PN+DDP. The proliferation inhibition rates were measured using an MTT assay, and the synergies of PN and DDP were analyzed. The effect of PN and DDP on SGC‑7901/DDP cell proliferation demonstrated a time‑ and concentration‑dependent association, and a synergy between PN and DDP was identified. DAPI staining and flow cytometry results indicated that 15 μmol/l PN significantly induced SGC‑7901/DDP apoptosis and G1 phase arrest compared with the untreated control group. Western blotting analysis results indicated that among the apoptosis‑associated proteins, there were dose‑dependent increases in the protein expression of apoptosis regulator BAX, cellular tumor antigen p53, cleaved caspase‑3 and cleaved capase‑9, and decreases in apoptosis regulator Bcl‑2 and Bcl‑xL protein expression levels. Among the cell cycle‑associated proteins, cyclin D1 expression was significantly decreased, cyclin‑dependent kinase inhibitor 1 expression was significantly increased, and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) activation was inhibited. Scratch and Transwell assay results revealed that PN significantly inhibited SGC‑7901/DDP cell migration, and invasion. The present study demonstrated that PN induces SGC‑7901/DDP apoptosis, inhibits SGC‑7901/DDP proliferation, migration and invasion, and enhances the drug sensitivity of the cells to DDP. The underlying mechanisms may be associated with inhibition of the STAT3 signaling pathway and regulation of the downstream apoptotic protein and cyclin expression levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Kapok fiber (KF) mediate self-reduction synthesis of KF/AgNPs micro/nano architecture. • KF act as reductant and microreactor to convert more Ag+ to small AgNPs controllably. • KF/AgNPs is underwater superoleophobic, underoil superhydrophobic and liquid-storing. • KF/AgNPs has high efficiency (>99.8 %) and flux to purify real stable oil–water system. • KF/AgNPs can resist bacteria, absorb microplastic, and recovered 96.4% Ag after used. The ubiquitous existence of harmful contaminants in water is recognized as a major threat to aquatic ecosystems and human health, and renewable, economical, and superefficient new materials are needed to eliminate these dangers. Here, the ultrasmall silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) anchored Kapok fiber (KF) (KF/AgNPs) composite capable of efficiently separating various oil–water systems and eliminating other pollutants or bacteria was prepared by a green self-reducing reaction process using natural KF as the "microreactor" and water as the only solvent. The introduction of AgNPs endows KF/AgNPs with significantly improved liquid storage capacity, underwater superoleophobicity and underoil superhydrophobicity, so it shows excellent switchable oil–water separation capability. The oil–water separation efficiencies under gravity reached 99.90 % for the oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion (water flux: 1300 L·m−2·h−1), 99.91 % for the water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion (oil flux: 1500 L·m−2·h−1), and 99.80 % for the immiscible oil–water mixture (flux: 1900 L·m−2·h−1). In addition, KF/AgNPs composite can serve as absorbents to remove oil slicks from sewage (removal efficiency: 99.95 %; absorption capacity: 42.3 g/g) and adsorbents to rapidly remove microplastics in actual natural waters (concentration: 10 mg/L and can inhibit the growth of E. coli bacteria. After use, approximately 96.4 % of Ag was recovered from spent composite, and an excellent biochar adsorbent for the dye was obtained simultaneously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The response surface methodology was used to optimize the parameters of pulse bi-directional electrolysis (PBE) in-situ synthesis of tungsten carbide (WC) in NaF-KF molten salt system. The process of PBE synthesis of WC is a short process method of in-situ synthesis of WC powders in molten salt electrolyte. WC were used both as cathode and anode. A symmetrical bi-directional pulse is applied between the two electrodes. Tungsten ions dissolved by forward pulse, and WC were produced in situ with carbon near the electrode during reverse pulse. During the research, it was found that the factors affecting the phase of the experimental product were Current intensity , Pulse period and Electrolysis duration. In this paper, the cathode and anodic dissolved mass and the Proportion of WC in the product were used as the response values. The Box-Behnken center combined test and response surface analysis are used to optimize the factors that affect significantly, and the optimal process parameters were determined. Finally, the model was experimentally verified. Under the optimized experimental conditions, high-performance tungsten carbide nanopowders were prepared with short-process and high-efficiency. • Combined with the response surface methodology, achieve high-efficiency recovery tungsten carbide nanopowder. • This method is ion grade in-situ synthesis under relatively mild conditions, tungsten carbide powder size is 100-200nm. • The pulse bi-directional electrolysis can be extended to the preparation of other refractory metal carbides such as VC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonconventional organic luminogens have attracted a great deal of interests owing to their intriguing properties (e.g., unusual fluorescence emission) and promising applications. According to previous studies, it was found that introduction of Si-O could enhance the fluorescence emission of the luminogens. Herein, we have synthesized some fluorescent siloxane derivatives and similar molecules without Si-O units by simple and efficient modification to investigate the role of Si-O units in the emission. It was found that the strong emission could be observed in dilute solutions of siloxane derivatives, but not in the carbon compounds. UV/Vis absorption, fluorescence spectra, nuclear magnetic resonance spectra, and theoretical calculations indicated that the heteroatom and the Si-O unit formed the coordination bond in the siloxane derivatives, resulting in enhanced fluorescence emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animals' long-term survival is dependent on their ability to sense, filter and respond to their environment at multiple timescales. For example, during development, animals integrate environmental information, which can then modulate adult behavior and developmental trajectory. The neural and molecular mechanisms that underlie these changes are poorly understood. C. elegans is a powerful model organism to study such mechanisms; however, conventional plate-based culturing techniques are limited in their ability to consistently control and modulate an animal's environmental conditions. To address this need, we developed a microfluidics-based experimental platform capable of long-term culture of populations of developing C. elegans covering the L1 larval stage to adulthood, while achieving spatial consistency and temporal control of their environment. To prevent bacterial accumulation and maintain optimal flow characteristics and nutrient consistency over the operational period of over one hundred and fifty hours, several features of the microfluidic system and the peripheral equipment were optimized. By manipulating food and pheromone exposure over several days, we were able to demonstrate environmental-dependent changes to growth rate and entry to dauer, an alternative developmental state. We envision this system to be useful in studying the mechanisms underlying long timescale changes to behavior and development in response to environmental changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT In this article, supramolecular silicone elastomers with self-healing function were first prepared by simple and controllable 'salt-forming vulcanization' of polyaminopropylmethylsiloxane with acids. Their structures and micrographs were verified by Fourier transform infrared spectra, Small-angle X-ray scattering experiments and atomic force microscope. The experimental results showed that the ion-association complexes were formed during vulcanization, and the obtained elastomers displayed self-healing and good mechanical properties even if the cross-linking agent was excessed. The thermogravimetric analysis showed that the elastomers crosslinked by inorganic acid were stable under high temperature. Unexpectedly, bionic structures were observed in the elastomers, which further changed the hydrophobicity of the surfaces of the elastomers physically. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017, 55, 903-911 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic modification (GM) of crops and climate change are arguably two of today's most challenging science communication issues. Increasingly, these two issues are connected in messages proposing GM as a viable option for ensuring global food security threatened by climate change. This study examines the effects of messages promoting the benefits of GM in the context of climate change. Further, it examines whether explicit reference to "climate change," or "global warming" in a GM message results in different effects than each other, or an implicit climate reference. An online sample of U.S. participants (N = 1050) were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: "climate change" cue, "global warming" cue, implicit cue, or control (no message). Generally speaking, framing GM crops as a way to help ensure global food security proved to be an effective messaging strategy in increasing positive attitudes toward GM. In addition, the implicit cue condition led to liberals having more positive attitudes and behavioral intentions toward GM than the "climate change" cue condition, an effect mediated by message evaluations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To test the effects of message framing on intentions to participate in seven behaviors to prevent coyote problems, we randomly assigned 461 participants to a control (no message) group or one of four experimental (message) conditions, as part of a 2 (gain versus loss) x 2 (family-referencing versus community-referencing) between-subjects factorial design. We found a significant three-way interaction between gain versus loss framing, point of reference, and past experience with coyotes on intentions to prevent human–coyote conflicts. For people who had encountered coyotes before, the family-referencing, gain-framed message had superior persuasive power; the family-referencing, loss-framed message was more effective in stimulating problem-prevention behavioral intentions for those who had not encountered coyotes. In addition, fear fully mediated the relationship between the three-way interaction and behavioral intentions. Tailoring messages to audiences based on prior experience with coyote problems may improve the efficacy of communication campaigns designed to reduce problem interactions with coyotes. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]